The history of Barbour County, West Virginia, from its earliest exploration and settlement to the present time, Part 45

Author: Maxwell, Hu, 1860-1927
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Morgantown, W. Va. : Acme Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 538


USA > West Virginia > Barbour County > The history of Barbour County, West Virginia, from its earliest exploration and settlement to the present time > Part 45


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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FAMILY HISTORY.


IRA C. POLING, son of Martin G. and Rebecca (Stemple) Poling, was born near the George Poling farm, June 15, 1867, and on September 11, 1888, at Nestorville, he was married to Rosa Belle, daughter of Jesse and Mary (Sturm) Stalnaker. Children, Raymond, born September, 3, 1890; Jessie M., September 4, 1893; Nora B., October 19, 1895, and Virgia M., July 2, 1898. Mrs. Poling was born October, 25, 1869. Mr. Poling is a member of the M. E. Church, and is a farmer, living two miles east of Phil- ippi, where he owns 115 acres of improved lands, underlaid with coal. He was educated in the public schools of Barbour. Mrs. Poling's grandfather was Henry Stalnaker.


MRS. RACHEL H. POLING, born at the old Howell homestead, 1850, daughter of Nehemiah and Rebecca (Limbers) Howell, was married Decem- ber 9, 1869, to James W., son of Martin and Sarah (Wells) Poling. Chil- dren, Sylvester, Alice M., Rosa Belle, Sarah R., George H. She isa mem- ber of the Missionary Baptist Church, and was educated in the public schools. She is proprietor of the Pennsylvania Hotel at Davis, Tucker County, West Virginia. Her son Sylvester, married Appie V. Parks; her daughter Rosa, married Nelson T. Bowman, and Sarah married James T. Darkey of Old Town, Maryland.


LOMAN SALATHIEL POLING, born on Teter's Creek in 1859, son of Emory and Catherine (Gainer) Poling, was married in Randolph County in 1880 to Genetta Estelline, daughter of Solomon and Mary Jane (Triplett) Ferguson. Children, Maudie A., Mattie E., Emory L., Solomon F., J. S., Hattie P. and Lulu G. Mr. Poling is a Democrat, and a farmer with good buildings, residing on Teter's Creek, where he owns a farm; also a mount- ian farm in Tucker County. He has taught nineteen terms of school in Randolph, Tucker and Barbour Counties. Mrs. Poling, a granddaughter of Robert Ferguson of Randolph County. Emory Poling, his father, was born at Meadowville in 1836, son of James and Elizabeth (Vannoy) Poling. He married a daughter of Samuel M. Gainer, and their children were Helen Angeline, James S., Loman S., Anzina Elizabeth, Josephine Augusta and Solomon S. James Poling and James' father were both born near Meadow- ville, the latter being one of the earliest inhabitants.


JAMES SAMUEL POLING, born 1856 on Teter's Creek, son of Emory and Catherine (Gainer) Poling, was married at Vannoy's Mills, 1875, to Louisa, daughter of William and Lucinda (Vanscoy) Workman. Their daughter's name is Florna. He is a member of the M. E. Church, South; is a Democrat, and a farmer and stockraiser, living on Teter's Creek; and he owns 300 acres, half improved, of which 88 acres are in Barbour and the remainder in Tucker County. He was educated in the public schools of the county, and began life as a teacher in Randolph County where he taught two terms; then two in Tucker, and nineteen in Barbour, in all of which he was successful.


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FAMILY HISTORY.


RILEY D. POLING, born on Bear Run, 1873, son of Hezekiah and Eliz- abeth (Woodford) Poling, was married four miles south of Philippi, August 22, 1895, to Cora Virginia, daughter of Spotswood and Isabella (Reed) Thacker. Their child's name is Dowden E. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and by occupation a farmer, residing on the waters of Sugar Creek, where he owns 130 acres of land, partly improved and all underlaid with coal. He was educated in the public schools of Barbour. His mother was born one mile west of Philippi in 1836, daughter of William and Sarah (Jackson) Woodford. She was married in 1860 to Hezekiah, son of William and Elizabeth (Payne) Poling. Their children were Maria, Sarah Virginia, Ulyses S., John Wesley, Columbia Ann and Riley D. Her grandfather, William Jackson, was born in Ohio.


COLUMBUS H. POLING, born near Philippi in 1876, son of Albert W. and Catherine (Moore) Poling. In politics he is a Republican, and by pro- fession a teacher, living at Philippi. He was educated in the public and private schools, and began teaching at the age of seventeen, and by his habits of industry and economy he has acquired some valuable real estate near Philippi.


WILLIAM ARTHUR PITTS, born 1853 at Scottsville, Virginia, son of Charles and Cassandra (Thurman) Pitts, was married at Philippi, 1883, to Alberta, daughter of A. G. and Mary R. (Seay) Reger. Children, Alma Virginia, Mamie Reta and Thurman Reger. Mr. Pitt is a grandson of Elisha G. Thurman of Virginia, who was a brother of Hon. Allen G. Thur- man of Ohio. He is a member of the M. E. Church, South, and in politics a Democrat. By occupation he is a real estate broker, residing at Kerens, Randolph County, and was educated at Stony Point College. Charles Pitts was born at Glasgow, Scotland, and came to America while young. In the Civil War he fought on the Confederate side under Fitzhugh Lee. Pre- vious to the war he was a merchant, and since the war has been a farmer and stockraiser. W. A. Pitts was for a number of ycars a railroad contrac- tor, first in Virginia and after 1881 in West Virginia, in the Kanawha Val- ley; then, in 1882, on the Weston & Buckhannon Railroad; in 1883 on the Grafton & Greenbrier; in 1887 was a contractor on the West Virginia Cen- tral, and the next year located at Kerens, where he has since remained in the employ of that company.


NOAH STOUT PARKS, born 1868 near Romine's Mill, son of Granville and Susan (Hardman) Parks, was married January 20, 1887, on Elk Creek, to Mary Etta, daughter of John Riley and Amanda (Simon) Zinn. Children, Lula Anna May, Rosa Bara Jane, Opal Jennie Belle, Sarah Van Leer. He is a member of the United Brethren Church, and of the orders I. O. O. F. and T. K. O. M. In politics he is a Democrat and in business a traveling salesman for the McCormick Machine Company, and lives at Mansfield. Noah Parks, his great grandfather, was an Englishman and was an early


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FAMILY HISTORY.


settler on Brushy Fork. Mr. Parks introduced the bronze turkeys and Light Brama chickens into Barbour; also introduced the Reuben Turner stock of horses from Kentucky into Barbour; also introduced the first trac- tion engine for threshing machine purposes, in 1893, He owns a half inter- est in a patent car coupler and is a stockholder in an oil well at the Kelley mines. Mr. Parks' father was a prisoner at Camp Chase in the Civil War.


SAMUEL D. PEPPER, born 1848 on Bartlett's Run, son of Johnson and Roanna (Bailey) Pepper, was married in Doddridge County, December 8, 1876, to Naomi, daughter of Ralph M. and Roxalina (Williams) O'Neill, Children, Earl, Inez, Raymond L. and Roxalina. Mr. Pepper is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, in politics is Republican, and by occupa- tion is a farmer and stockdealer, residing on Bartlett's Run, where he owns 256 acres, underlaid with coal. The family is English, William Pepper, the great grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came from England and settled in Delaware, and after his marriage removed to Virginia, before the Revolutionary War. His son, William Pepper, was born in Virginia and married Nancy Johnson. Their children were, William, Scarber, Parker, Vina, Anna, and Johnson, the last being father of the subject of this sketch. These children came to West Virginia in 1808 and settled near King's Knobb, on the Brushy Fork of Elk. Johnson Pepper was born July 8, 1801, and his wife 1810, and is still living (1899). Johnson Pepper's chil- dren were as follows: Marshall, Nancy, Mary, Thomas, Edith, Thorn- bury, Benjamin, Eleanor, James B., Samuel D., Roanna. The Baileys are English, and the great grandfather of the subject of this sketch married Hannah Thornbury, of Scotch-Irish extraction, and he lived in Virginia, reaching the advanced age of 103 years. His son, Thornbury Bailey, was born in Virginia, and at an early date came to West Virginia, where he married Mary, daughter of Thomas Bartlett. The history of the Bartletts is given elsewhere in this book.


WILLIAM G. W. PRICE, born 1828 near Belington, son of William Price, was married in 1848 to Elizabeth England. Children, Israel, James M., Cordelia, Eliza Jane, Francis M., Charlotte, Henry H., Lucretia, He is a member of the M. E. Church, in politics a Republican, by occupation a shoemaker and resides above Belington; was educated in the common schools, and was a soldier and officer in the Civil War, beginning as a pri- vate and rising to lieutenant. He belonged to Company F, Fifteenth W. Va. Infantry, and served under Crook and Sheridan, in the Shenandoah Valley, in Kentucky and Tennessee, taking part in sixteen engagements. His son, Henry H., was born in 1868, married in 1895 at Belington to Laura, daughter of John England. Their child's name is Rhea Bernice. He is a Methodist, a Junior O. U. A. M., and a Republican and by occupation is a shoemaker and confectioner. He was educated in the public schools. Among the battles in which Lieutenant Price took part were the following:


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FAMILY HISTORY.


Cloyd Mountain, New River Bridge, Middle Brook, Lynchburg, Snicker's Ferry, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, and many others. He was under Generals Crook, Hunter and Sheridan, and in 1864 his regiment lost 285 men. His brother, Isaac, was in the same regiment, and lost both his arms, and one and a half pounds of flesh shot from his thigh by the explo- sion of a shell at Cedar Creek.


CHARLES E. PAYNE, born on Stewart's Run 1871, son of Francis E. Payne, was married June 11, 1898, at Clarksburg, to Effie, daughter of John G. and Julia (Lafollette) Fleming. In politics he is Democratic, be- longs to the I. O. O. F., and is a farmer residing on Stewart's Run where he owns 170 acres, well improved. His father was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, in 1832, son of Travis and Mary (Wise) Payne; and was married December 11, 1855, in Barbour, to Virginia, daughter of Abram and Mary (Yeager) Simon. Children, Mary Florence, Lewis A., W. Ben- jamin, Richard F., Andrew J., Emma I., John B., Claude C. He is a mem- ber of the M. E. Church, South; in politics is Democratic, and by occupa- tion a farmer on Stewart's Run. He was County Assessor of lands, was nine years a Justice and one term County Commissioner. His grandfather came from England and settled in Fairfax County, Virginia; his father moved from Fairfax to Loudoun County; and the subject of this sketch moved from Loudoun to Frederick, from Frederick to Taylor (1852), and five years later came to Barbour, where he now lives with his daughter, Mrs. Emma Woodford, who owns 150 acres on Stewart's Run. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812.


JAMES R. PROUDFOOT, born on Taylor's Drain, 1828, son of William and Margaret (Mouser) Proudfoot, was married in 1854 to Ann M. Mouser. Children, Jacob, Francis H., Sylvester, and one unnamed. He is a member of the M. E. Church, a Republican and a farmer, living on Taylor's Drain, where he owns fine property. He attended school in the vicinity, and in 1860 was a Justice of the Peace. He is one of the substantial men of Bar- bour County.


JOHN PROUDFOOT was born in Scotland and emigrated to Virginia, married Leanor Hitt, who was of German descent and a native of Virginia, and they had born to them in Fauquier County, Virginia, seven children. Mrs. Proudfoot's uncles, John and Peter Hitt, were American soldiers in the Revolution. She was a professed Christian but never a church mem- ber. She died in 1829 and was buried at Mary's Chapel on Taylor's Drain. John Proudfoot died 1823 and was buried at Mary's Chapel. He was a Presbyterian and was highly educated. Their children were Mary, John, Elias, Alexander, William, James and Thomas. Sketches of their lives follow.


MARY PROUDFOOT, daughter of John and Leanor, was born in Vir- ginia June 12, 1787, died on Taylor's Drain. She married John Robinson


JOSEPH TETER.


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FAMILY HISTORY.


(For names of children see sketch of John Robinson.)


JOHN PROUDFOOT, son of John and Leanor, was born in Virginia, died on Taylor's Drain, married first Agnes Glasscock, and second Rebecca Thompson. Children, William, Alexander, Sarah Ann, Lucy, Polly, Nancy, Mahala, Henry and Susan.


ELIAS PROUDFOOT, son of John and Leanor, was born in Virginia and died in Missouri. He married Edith Read.


ALEXANDER PROUDFOOT, son of John and Leanor, was born in Vir- ginia and died on Middle Fork, Barbour County. He married Elizabeth Cole, and their children were John, William, Joshua, Leanor and Nancy.


WILLIAM PROUDFOOT, son of John and Leanor, born in Virginia, died 1843 on Taylor's Drain, married Jane Robinson. (For names of children see sketch of Jane Robinson.)


JAMES PROUDFOOT, son of John and Leanor, born in Virginia, died 1855 on waters of Hacker's Creek in Barbour, buried on Taylor's Drain. He married Elizabeth Reed, who died in 1865 and was buried on Taylor's Drain. Their children were McGowen, Arah Jane, Francis, James William, Edith and Matilda Ann.


THOMAS PROUDFOOT, born in Virginia, died 1890 at Des Moines, Iowa; married Elizabeth Robinson. (For the names of his children see sketch of Elizabeth Robinson.)


JOHN H. PROUDFOOT, born on Pleasant Creek, 1822, son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Cole) Proudfoot, was married in 1846 to Sarah A., daughter of Uriah and Joanna (Cole) Modisett. Children, Anna E., Chester W., Joanna Martha, Delbert M., Ira B. and Isa M. He is a member of the Prim- itive Baptist Church, and is a farmer on the waters of Hacker's Creek. When public schools were introduced the school houses were located in Pleasant District by a committee composed of Mr. Proudfoot, John Harvey Woodford and Richard Crutcher. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch, John Proudfoot, came from Scotland and settled on Taylor's Drain.


DELBERT MARSHALL PROUDFOOT, born in Barbour, 1857, son of John H. and Sarah A. (Modisett) Proudfoot, was married in Pleasant District, May 28, 1882, to Nancy J., daughter of Isaac and Jane (Hoffman) Woodford. Children, Grace and John H. Mr. Proudfoot is a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, a Democrat, a farmer and dairyman, living on the Clarks- burg pike, west of Philippi. He attended the West Virginia College at Flemington. His great grandfather was a native of Scotland and was edu- cated for the church. Mrs. Proudfoot's grandfather was John H. Wood- ford, one of the leading men of the county. Mr. Proudfoot's grandfather, Uriah Modisett, was a man of large influence in Barbour County, and his uncle, Augustus Modisett, was Sheriff of Barbour in 1866, and was a mem- ber of the West Virginia Legislature. Later he removed to Indiana, Mr. Proudfoot owns 80 acres, highly improved, and a fine dairy of improved


ยท


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FAMILY HISTORY.


stock. It was the first dairy in Barbour County. Mrs. Proudfoot was born August 17, 1857, and is a member of the M. E. Church.


R


ROBINSON AND PROUDFOOT FAMILIES. Among the first settlers of what is now Barbour County were the Robinson and Proudfoot families. More than a century ago these families came from the East and settled on Taylor's Drain. That beautiful valley with its rich state of cultivation, as it is today, was made so by the energy and industry of the two families named, together with the Woodford family, which married into the Robin- son family. The hum of the bee and the song of the bird have taken the place of the howl of the wolf. Just across the Delaware in New Jersey lived James Robinson and Elizabeth Davis (who became his wife) when the old Liberty Bell proclaimed that Independence had been declared. No doubt they joined with the populace in that greatest of all American celebrations, July 4, 1776. Some twenty years later, James Robinson and his family, consisting of his wife and two sons, Job and John, came to what was then Harrison County, stopping a short time in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where their daughter Elizabeth was born. The four other children, Will- iam, Jane, Mary and James, were born in their new home on the headwaters of Taylor's Drain. James Robinson and his wife were of English descent, and she was a Quaker, possessed of the estimable qualities of that religious sect. He died in 1835 and his wife in 1840. They were buried in the beau- tiful cemetery of Mary's Chapel, which is near the site of their old home- stead. The history of their children is as follows:


JOB ROBINSON; son of James and Elizabeth, was born in New Jersey, ' died in Barbour County and was buried at Mary's Chapel. He married Nancy Thompson, and their children were John S., Henry, Elizabeth, Job, Rebecca and Nancy.


JOHN ROBINSON, born March 23, 1793, son of James and Elizabeth, was born in New Jersey, died in Barbour, was buried at Taylor's Drain. He married Mary Proudfoot, born June 12, 1787, and their children were James, Elias, Leanor, John, Elizabeth, Mary, Agnes, William and Jacob. Of these, Jacob, the youngest, is the sole survivor. This family and part of Job Robinson's family are the only ones of the numerous descendants of James Robinson that remained in Barbour County. All the others migrated to the West. John Robinson was an American soldier in the War of 1812.


ELIZABETH ROBINSON, daughter of James and Elizabeth, was born in Pennsylvania and died in Iowa. She married Thomas Proudfoot, and their children were Jacob, Catherine, Jane, James, Harriet, Elias, Emily, Caro- line, Charles and Martha Ann.


WILLIAM ROBINSON, son of James and Elizabeth, born in Barbour died in Calhoun County, married Katherine Weaver. Their children were,


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FAMILY HISTORY.


Frank, Job, Harvey, Abbey, Rachel, Louisa, James, Loucetta and Eliza- beth.


JANE ROBINSON, daughter of James and Elizabeth, was born in Bar- bour, died in 1858, was buried at Taylor's Drain. She married William Proudfoot. Their children were, Edith, Leanor, Elizabeth, John, James R., Julia Ann, Edward and Sally.


MARY ROBINSON, daughter of James and Elizabeth, was born and died in Barbour, and was buried at Mary's Chapel, which was named for her. She married Jacob Woodford, and their children were, William, Robert, James, Benjamin, John and Hannah.


JAMES ROBINSON, son of James and Elizabeth, was born in Barbour and died at or near Gallena, Illinois.


WILLIAM ROBINSON, son of John and Mary (Proudfoot) Robinson, was born in what is now Barbour, then Harrison County, September 20, 1827, and spent the greater portion of his life on Taylor's Drain, in Pleas- ant District. In 1850, when he was twenty-three years of age, he was married to Mary Sayre, and they made their home near the place of his birth. He owned a large farm which engaged his attention, although he worked nearly all his life at his trade, shoemaking. Ten children were born to them of whom nine attained the ages of maturity, one dying in 1863, at the age of eighteen months. Those living, named in the order of their ages, beginning with the eldest, are, Mrs. Isaac Means, residing at Evansville, Preston County; Frank P., near Grafton, Taylor County; Louisa V., who married Lon Wilson, of Barbour County; Sarah A., who married Thomas J. Allen, of East Peru, Iowa; Mary M., Rev. John S. Robinson, now of Weston, West Virginia, of the M. E. Conference; David W. and Charles W., (twins) the latter is cashier of the Bank of Mannington, at Mannington, Marion County; Rose, who married Scott H. White, of West Superior, Wisconsin; and Ira E., of Grafton, Prosecuting Attorney of Taylor County.


The Robinsons were southern Democrats, but they remained loyal to the Union and to the Stars and Stripes during the Civil War. William Robinson left his home on Taylor's Drain early in the war, and moved to near Knottsville, in Taylor County, where he would be less exposed to annoyances from Confederates and their sympathizers. Having previously purchased a farm and tannery there, he took up the pursuits of peace in his new home, and industriously followed his calling. He operated the tannery at Knottsville during the war and after its close. He resided at Knotts- ville fourteen years, a model citizen, a man without enemies, whose charac- ter was a guide to the young. He was a member of the M. E. Church, and held an official position in it nearly all his life. After his residence in Taylor he returned to his former home in Barbour and made it his place of residence till the end of his life. His death, due to paralysis, came sud-


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FAMILY HISTORY.


denly November 23, 1896, and he was buried at Taylor's Drain. He was never an office seeker. In 1890 he was nominated on the Republican ticket in Barbour for the legislature, without his consent and without his knowl- edge; and although Barbour was then strongly Democratic, he lacked only sixty-eight votes of being elected.


JACOB W. ROBINSON, son of John and Mary (Proudfoot) Robinson, was born on Taylor's Drain, Barbour County, February 20, 1829. He was twice married, first on November 20, 1855, to Elizabeth Ann, daughter of Albert and Mary (Thompson) Carter, and four sons were born to them, William Fletcher, James P., Lloyd D. and John A. He was married the second time on July 1, 1869, to Belinda, daughter of Philip and Christina (Miller) Wolf, and they have two sons, Ellis B. and Clarence Elliott. Nearly the whole of the first fifty years of his life was spent on Taylor's Drain; and in 1877 he moved to Philippi to make it his home and to perform the duties of deputy sheriff and jailer, to which position he had been chosen. Prior to that time he had, for four years, from 1866 to 1870, filled the office of District Treasurer for Pleasant District, and as such he collected disbursed and accounted for the taxes of that district. During that time the majority of the school houses in that district were built and he paid for them with the public money. When he moved to Philippi it was to act as deputy for J. W. Talbott, who was then Sheriff. When Jacob Hudkins was elected Sheriff in 1876, Mr. Robinson was appointed his deputy for the west side of the county and collected the taxes there. He served in that capacity until 1880, and then became proprietor of the Robinson House, now the Valley House, in Philippi; and in 1883 built an addition to it. In 1885 he was elected Sheriff and filled the office four years. Afterwards, when a vacancy occurred in the office, he was appointed to fill it; and when B. B. Rohrbaugh was elected Sheriff in 1896, Mr. Robinson was again chosen as deputy and jailer. He is a member of the M. E. Church, South, and a Democrat.


LLOYD D. ROBINSON, born on Taylor's Drain, December 22, 1861, son of Jacob W. Robinson, was married October 19, 1887, at Philippi, to Prudie S., daughter of Edward F. and Lydia A. Grant. Children, Opal, porn December 29, 1890; Neil, born April 27, 1893, died June 29, 1894; Harry Grayden, born May 26, 1896. Mr. Robinson is a member of the M. E. Church, of Bigelow Lodge No. 52, A. F. and A. M .; in politics is a Demo- crat; lives at Philippi, and has held the following offices: Deputy Sheriff three years; Recorder of Philippi several years; Mayor of Philippi 1896; was the first postmaster in the State appointed under Grover Cleveland, and held the position four years and twenty-seven days. In 1896 he was chair- man of the Democratic Executive Committee, and is now a member of the Congressional Executive Committee for Barbour County ..


MAJOR MILTON D. REED, born 1836, near Philippi, son of Peter and


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FAMILY HISTORY.


Ruth (Lewellyn) Reed, was married May 30, 1861, to Margaret J., daughter of John and Elsie Stuart. Children, Stuart F., Ocea Lewellyn, Rosa Belle. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, a Republican, and a farmer and stockraiser, living on Elk Creek. Mr. Reed was a major in the Virginia militia, and for twenty years was secretary of the Board of Edu- cation. His farm of 245 acres is in a fine state of improvement, and is under- laid with coal. His daughter Ocea, in 1895, was married to Edward Minter Jackson, of Buckhannon, a well known farmer and stockman of Upshur County; and his daughter Belle, in 1898, married Charles C. Wentz, of Park - ersburg.


STUART F. REED, son of Milton D. Reed, was born in Elk District, January 8, 1866. At the age of sixteen he began teaching, and in 1884 en- tered the Fairmont Normal School, graduating in ten months. He then entered the West Virginia University as a cadet, taking the classical and law course. In 1889 he graduated with the degree of L.L. B., and has been admitted to the bar in the State and the United States Courts. During his student days he was selected orator on several public occasions, to repre- sent the Parthenon society. He was one of the founders of the Athenaeum, the magazine of the University. In 1891 he bacame managing editor of the Clarksburg Telegram, one of the leading Republican papers of the State. He took an active part in politics and literary work, and was elected three consecutive times President of the West Virginia Editorial Association, and declined a fourth election. As a compliment to the ability with which he had filled the position, the editors of the State presented him with a solid gold watch, chain and diamond-set charm. Mr. Reed personally conducted the memorable excursion of West Virginia editors to the Atlanta Exposi- tion. In 1894 Mr. Reed was nominated without opposition for the State Senate, and was elected by a large majority; and on his twenty-ninth birth- day, in the Senate Chamber of West Virginia, he selected his desk and chair as the youngest member of that body. His first speech was that placing Hon. Stephen B. Elkins in nomination for the U. S. Senate. The speech on that occasion was highly complimented by the press and by pub- lic men. Another notable speech made by him, and one of great influence on the history of the State, was that protesting against the appropriation of State funds for private and sectarian schools. Mr. Reed has held other positions of trust, but they have been more honorary than lucrative. He is a trustee of Broaddus Classical and Scientific Institute at Clarksburg, and for three years was a Regent of the State University. In 1892 he was an alternate delegate to the National Republican Convention at Minneapolis. He has served as member of the Republican State Committee, and as pres- ident of the National Republican League. He was a member of the World's Literary Congress at Chicago in 1893, and was publicly complimented by




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